Comments for THE Virtual Book Circle: Featuring Richard Brodie's "Virus of the Mind" http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind THE Virtual Book Circle. A Project of CMN - The Conscious Meme Network: Shining a Light on What Elevates Our Lives Sun, 08 May 2011 15:35:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Comment on Crisis of the Mind | Perspective from a Cultural Rebel by Nancy Farris http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/crisis-of-the-mind-perspective-from-a-cultural-rebel/#comment-13 Nancy Farris Sun, 08 May 2011 15:35:28 +0000 http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/?p=149#comment-13 Hi Sheila, I really appreciate your perspective that "memetics" is a way of quantifying the way science looks at experience. You're bringing up for me, the distinction between intuitive knowledge/experience and scientific knowledge/experience. While I tend to follow my own intuitive sense when searching for those attitudes, and beliefs (cultural or personal) that have shaped my experience, you're comment reminds me that there are many who do rely on science, and there is tremendous value in that as well. So, it's a reminder to me to value that aspect of memetics. I also like what you shared about the "law of attraction" being covered quite brilliantly in memetics. It helps me to see there is an element in memetics that pulls it all together. Thank you so much for sharing your comments! I look forward to seeing more of them as you feel inspired to share! Hi Sheila,
I really appreciate your perspective that “memetics” is a way of quantifying the way science looks at experience. You’re bringing up for me, the distinction between intuitive knowledge/experience and scientific knowledge/experience. While I tend to follow my own intuitive sense when searching for those attitudes, and beliefs (cultural or personal) that have shaped my experience, you’re comment reminds me that there are many who do rely on science, and there is tremendous value in that as well. So, it’s a reminder to me to value that aspect of memetics.

I also like what you shared about the “law of attraction” being covered quite brilliantly in memetics. It helps me to see there is an element in memetics that pulls it all together. Thank you so much for sharing your comments! I look forward to seeing more of them as you feel inspired to share!

]]> Comment on What Is “Running” You? Is It Your Own “Personal Meme” OR A “Cultural Virus”-? by Sheila Damiani http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/what-is-running-you-is-it-your-own-personal-meme-or-a-cultural-virus/#comment-12 Sheila Damiani Sun, 08 May 2011 13:16:42 +0000 http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/?p=96#comment-12 I find the "Law of Attraction" to be one of the most powerful memes that the mind can replicate. I have been working with clients on this very theme, but of course, from a more understood perspective. I want to share a story: Have a friend that always complains about spending money.....he says he always will. The other day, he received a parking ticket in the mail! I had to laugh, right-ou-loud! I responsed: See your meme is true to your belief! You will create, according to your genetic belief......as for the social-virus, well let's just say, that his cultural/religious background accounts for the suffering he's doing since he lost his job! Now comes the expansive part.......alchemy can infect a mind with a wonderful process of rebirth. Change the words of the song, and you can change the world! I find the “Law of Attraction” to be one of the most powerful memes that the mind can replicate. I have been working with clients on this very theme, but of course, from a more understood perspective. I want to share a story: Have a friend that always complains about spending money…..he says he always will. The other day, he received a parking ticket in the mail! I had to laugh, right-ou-loud! I responsed: See your meme is true to your belief! You will create, according to your genetic belief……as for the social-virus, well let’s just say, that his cultural/religious background accounts for the suffering he’s doing since he lost his job! Now comes the expansive part…….alchemy can infect a mind with a wonderful process of rebirth. Change the words of the song, and you can change the world!

]]> Comment on Crisis of the Mind | Perspective from a Cultural Rebel by Sheila Damiani http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/crisis-of-the-mind-perspective-from-a-cultural-rebel/#comment-11 Sheila Damiani Sun, 08 May 2011 13:03:36 +0000 http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/?p=149#comment-11 I loved your insightful perspective. I believe that "memetics" isn't new, it's a way of quantifying the way science looks at experience. For many years now, we have been working on "de-programming" social-conditioning. I was getting a little frustrated, as there seemed to be a block in some areas, I just couldn't get through. I went with the flow, until everything in my life seemed undermin(d)ed by some mysterious virus. I was exhausted. Having choices, and knowing what is really min(d)e, and what isn't.....really has helped this fellow Rebel innoculate myself with a far, more powerful antiodote, than I could have managed, if I had been unable to "see" what was driving me genetically. I find the "Law of Attraction," to be covered quite brilliantly, and my alchemic nature is truly empowered by the process of the meme. I loved your insightful perspective. I believe that “memetics” isn’t new, it’s a way of quantifying the way science looks at experience. For many years now, we have been working on “de-programming” social-conditioning. I was getting a little frustrated, as there seemed to be a block in some areas, I just couldn’t get through. I went with the flow, until everything in my life seemed undermin(d)ed by some mysterious virus. I was exhausted. Having choices, and knowing what is really min(d)e, and what isn’t…..really has helped this fellow Rebel innoculate myself with a far, more powerful antiodote, than I could have managed, if I had been unable to “see” what was driving me genetically. I find the “Law of Attraction,” to be covered quite brilliantly, and my alchemic nature is truly empowered by the process of the meme.

]]> Comment on Intro to Virtual Book Circle by Cynthia Maglaras http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/introduction/#comment-10 Cynthia Maglaras Mon, 07 Mar 2011 02:54:47 +0000 http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/#comment-10 Hi, I loved the website. Loved the articles. Thanks for bringing this subject into "consciousness". Hi,
I loved the website. Loved the articles. Thanks for bringing this subject into “consciousness”.

]]> Comment on What Is “Running” You? Is It Your Own “Personal Meme” OR A “Cultural Virus”-? by Deborah Koppel Mitchell http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/what-is-running-you-is-it-your-own-personal-meme-or-a-cultural-virus/#comment-8 Deborah Koppel Mitchell Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:47:39 +0000 http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/?p=96#comment-8 ALSO SEE this article- Just out today! (2-25-11) From Richard Brodie, author of "Virus Of The Mind-The New Science of the Meme" >http://www.healyourlife.com/author-richard-brodie/2011/02/wisdom/inspiration/watch-out-for-memes?utm_id=HYLFB ALSO SEE this article- Just out today! (2-25-11) From Richard Brodie, author of “Virus Of The Mind-The New Science of the Meme” >http://www.healyourlife.com/author-richard-brodie/2011/02/wisdom/inspiration/watch-out-for-memes?utm_id=HYLFB

]]> Comment on Crisis of the Mind | Perspective from a Cultural Rebel by Nancy Farris http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/crisis-of-the-mind-perspective-from-a-cultural-rebel/#comment-7 Nancy Farris Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:32:55 +0000 http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/?p=149#comment-7 Hey Christy - I love your question, and I wholeheartedly agree that kids should be taught how the thoughts and ideas they 'think' they have are being so heavily influenced by the world around them. What would happen if they were allowed to be aware of those influences, and essentially take them apart and explore them? Teaching a course in our education system on this topic is one great idea for leveraging these ideas. I look forward to see what else bubbles up around the idea of a new paradigm, and leveraging the paradigm. Right now, I'm still not sure for myself if it is a new paradigm, or if it's exposing the old paradigm, which maybe IS a new paradigm? Or if it matters what I call it, and just the awareness is enough! Oy! I'm looking forward to continuing the conversation. It will be interesting to discover just how deep the rabbit hole goes!! (And I'm betting that is a meme!) I'm beginning to warm up to the concept of calling memes "mind viruses".... The journey is just beginning! Hey Christy – I love your question, and I wholeheartedly agree that kids should be taught how the thoughts and ideas they ‘think’ they have are being so heavily influenced by the world around them. What would happen if they were allowed to be aware of those influences, and essentially take them apart and explore them? Teaching a course in our education system on this topic is one great idea for leveraging these ideas. I look forward to see what else bubbles up around the idea of a new paradigm, and leveraging the paradigm. Right now, I’m still not sure for myself if it is a new paradigm, or if it’s exposing the old paradigm, which maybe IS a new paradigm? Or if it matters what I call it, and just the awareness is enough! Oy!

I’m looking forward to continuing the conversation. It will be interesting to discover just how deep the rabbit hole goes!! (And I’m betting that is a meme!) I’m beginning to warm up to the concept of calling memes “mind viruses”…. The journey is just beginning!

]]> Comment on Crisis of the Mind! (Reflections on Intro) by Gene S. http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/crisis-of-the-mind-reflections-on-intro/#comment-6 Gene S. Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:45:06 +0000 http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/?p=75#comment-6 Hi, Christy: Just a comment on your remarks about teaching kids. They watch tv; they go to the store. They're bombarded by advertising. I think they should be taught, as early as pre-school, that the nice man offering them candy doesn't have their interests in mind: he's trying to sell them something. He's out to implant a mind virus. Here's a few of my (un)favorite mind viruses: 1.. "The government is not the solution to our problem; it is the problem." Notice it's "the" not "our" government. 2.. If I am convinced of something, it has to be true. E. g. "I can't imagine that all the beauty and order in Nature is the result of mindless evolution." 3.. If I find something repulsive (the ick! effect) , it should be outlawed. E.g. Gay marriage, gay sex. 4.. "What's your favorite team? You don't have one? My God!" Hi, Christy: Just a comment on your remarks about teaching kids. They watch
tv; they go to the store. They’re bombarded by advertising. I think they
should be taught, as early as pre-school, that the nice man offering them
candy doesn’t have their interests in mind: he’s trying to sell them
something. He’s out to implant a mind virus.

Here’s a few of my (un)favorite mind viruses:

1.. “The government is not the solution to our problem; it is the
problem.” Notice it’s “the” not “our” government.
2.. If I am convinced of something, it has to be true. E. g. “I can’t
imagine that all the beauty and order in Nature is the result of mindless
evolution.”
3.. If I find something repulsive (the ick! effect) , it should be
outlawed. E.g. Gay marriage, gay sex.
4.. “What’s your favorite team? You don’t have one? My God!”

]]> Comment on What Is “Running” You? Is It Your Own “Personal Meme” OR A “Cultural Virus”-? by Christy Reveles http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/what-is-running-you-is-it-your-own-personal-meme-or-a-cultural-virus/#comment-5 Christy Reveles Mon, 07 Feb 2011 18:38:52 +0000 http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/?p=96#comment-5 Hey Deborah - I get so excited thinking about the possibilities of creating venues for meme consciousness! I love what you said about how we can consciously work to promote memes that raise consciousness and that help lift and lighten the world. What if we (all of us working toward this lofty goal) could create and promote strong, powerful memes that work toward the Higher Good, and that a huge critical mass of people around the world caught all of these positive mind viruses??? We could literally move (metaphorical) mountains; the possibilities for advancing our world, our consciousness, our universe would be and are endless! Hey Deborah – I get so excited thinking about the possibilities of creating venues for meme consciousness! I love what you said about how we can consciously work to promote memes that raise consciousness and that help lift and lighten the world. What if we (all of us working toward this lofty goal) could create and promote strong, powerful memes that work toward the Higher Good, and that a huge critical mass of people around the world caught all of these positive mind viruses??? We could literally move (metaphorical) mountains; the possibilities for advancing our world, our consciousness, our universe would be and are endless!

]]> Comment on Crisis of the Mind | Perspective from a Cultural Rebel by Christy Reveles http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/crisis-of-the-mind-perspective-from-a-cultural-rebel/#comment-4 Christy Reveles Mon, 07 Feb 2011 18:28:03 +0000 http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/?p=149#comment-4 Hey Nancy - you really throw out some thought-provoking ideas here! I love this question that you pose: “What if this science of memetics does reveal an entirely new paradigm? What might it look like, and how might it change things?” So here is my question to your question: "If indeed memetics reveals an entirely new paradigm, how can we leverage this paradigm to shift, heighten, and transform consciousness around the world?" Also, you speak of our ability to make choices, which I am a whole-hearted advocate of. No whining, no victimization, right? However, now I am beginning to wonder how much "choice" we really have when our thoughts are governed unconsciouly by mind viruses. It seems like we must first become conscious of memes and how they can wreak havoc on our ability to make "true" choices. So, I guess that is what memetics is all about - the study of the science of the mind. I really think there should be a required course in our education system on this topic! Hey Nancy – you really throw out some thought-provoking ideas here! I love this question that you pose: “What if this science of memetics does reveal an entirely new paradigm? What might it look like, and how might it change things?” So here is my question to your question: “If indeed memetics reveals an entirely new paradigm, how can we leverage this paradigm to shift, heighten, and transform consciousness around the world?”

Also, you speak of our ability to make choices, which I am a whole-hearted advocate of. No whining, no victimization, right? However, now I am beginning to wonder how much “choice” we really have when our thoughts are governed unconsciouly by mind viruses. It seems like we must first become conscious of memes and how they can wreak havoc on our ability to make “true” choices. So, I guess that is what memetics is all about – the study of the science of the mind. I really think there should be a required course in our education system on this topic!

]]> Comment on Crisis of the Mind | Perspective from a Cultural Rebel by Deborah Koppel Mitchell http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/crisis-of-the-mind-perspective-from-a-cultural-rebel/#comment-3 Deborah Koppel Mitchell Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:15:36 +0000 http://virtualbookcircle.com/virusofthemind/?p=149#comment-3 WOW!!! Nancy!!! What you have sooo righteously (AND-"Rightly!" :) AND eloquently expressed here, is exactly the type of inner and outer "conversations" we are ALL needing--AND craving-! Thank YOU for putting this out there--!! AND for your "honest expression"--:) THAT IS A Meme in itself-! "Honest expression"-! Let's get IT going--!!! HERE AND NOW is a great start-! Thank YOU!!! WOW!!! Nancy!!!
What you have sooo righteously (AND-”Rightly!” :) AND eloquently expressed here, is exactly the type of inner and outer “conversations” we are ALL needing–AND craving-! Thank YOU for putting this out there–!! AND for your “honest expression”–:)
THAT IS A Meme in itself-! “Honest expression”-! Let’s get IT going–!!!
HERE AND NOW is a great start-! Thank YOU!!!

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